As it has done each year since 1973, SIGNIS and INTERFILM joined together to appoint an ecumenical jury to choose that film in the festival’s competition that best portrayed “human experience that is in harmony with the gospel” or best sensitized “viewers to spiritual, human or social questions and values.” I was privileged to be part of the Ecumenical Jury this year.
+ MoreThough the episode was clearly about trust, when we offer it and to whom, there is one giant allusion the writers are hinting at throughout…
+ MoreOn Wednesday, August 9, we were happy to host a panel discussion preceding a screening of Annabelle: Creation, entitled “In Defense of Evil.”
+ MoreIn light of my current research on the horror genre, I am increasingly convinced that the reason we continue to see so many horror films in the twenty-first century is because they are providing the broader culture with a much-needed avenue for navigating the various traumas that seem to define much of contemporary life.
+ MoreWhat can we take away from this week, besides a rollercoaster of intense emotions? While the plot is narrowing to a handful of stories, it is the unexpected that continues to play a primary role.
+ MoreThis film reminded me of my faith community and our initial reluctance to accept the other, especially if we see the other as strange or peculiar (or sinful?!). Fear reigns in many parts of the American church, especially when a character like James enters and challenges the status quo.
+ MoreWhen we are confronted with new information, we must decide to either accept or reject it.
+ MoreWind River is a compelling film. It’s like Beowulf or Njal’s Saga. I mean that in the most complimentary sense possible.
+ MoreI’ve long defended director Luc Besson’s work. His movies revel in the idea of being movies. He handles genre material with evident glee, and his directorial hand is sure.
+ MoreThis week, Game of Thrones explored how trusting our instincts is almost always a risk.
+ MoreAfter seeing the hope, goodness, and justice Comic-Con can cultivate in the social imagination, I say with Jacob from Genesis, “Surely God is here and I did not know it.”
+ MoreLuckily there’s so much more going on at Comic-Con besides the video presentations and the full cast panels, so I improvised and went to check out the other stuff.
+ MoreCaesar was our “Caesar” in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Now he’s our “Moses.”
+ MoreWhen it came time for The Defenders panel, the flood gates opened and the room was buzzing with anticipation. Everyone was excited for a new panel, but no one, including the panel moderator, was ready for what was to come.
+ MoreThe benefit of having line buddies at Comic-Con is that you can take turns holding the group’s place in line so each person can get to the many other panels and events held throughout today.
+ MoreRefreshingly, Homecoming’s real “home” is in the high school portions of this movie, which work so well that the audience is left wishing that this weren’t even a superhero movie but just a high-school comedy.
+ MoreWhile Comic-Con officially begins the Thursday of event week, a few panels and screenings are held for the eager fandomites the day before. Among these the most popular is preview night.
+ MoreArya, Sansa, Cersei, and Daenerys have lived through six seasons of incredible pain, loss, torture, and despair, and they have come out stronger and more powerful than any other characters.
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